Our Vision

The Department of Architecture will continue to strive to be a nationally recognized program centered on building design excellence. Our history of professional and technological innovation will serve to promote environmental leadership and diverse community engagement with a focus on creative interdisciplinary systems thinking. As a well prepared architecture school in Georgia, we will emerge as the most influential professional Architecture program in the Southeastern region!

Our Mission at Kennesaw State fully prepare our students to excel in the profession of Architecture. Our NAAB accredited Bachelor of Architecture program is situated in the rapidly growing Atlanta region, where we provide a multitude of opportunities linking education to practice in support of curricular innovation and applied learning. 

ksu cacm student measuring their construction project

Our dynamic faculty and facilities support core competencies and fundamental professional skills through a strong studio culture and interdisciplinary curriculum. Our students graduate with a holistic sense of the practice of Architecture to become lifelong learners.

Strategic Plan and Values

Vision and Mission Intersection

Building design excellence

  • Multi-scalar learning opportunities that support the design of a responsive built environment and a resilient educational model for future generations
  • An interdisciplinary STEM curriculum that fosters critical thinking and embraces the full breadth of architectural integration and environmental ethics/responsibilities.

Most relevant Architecture program in the southeast region

  • Leadership, shared governance, collaboration, and partnerships that demonstrate and expand our value and relevance (to the field of Architecture) through engaged learning
  • Innovative approaches to the profession and Technology to achieve design excellence.
ksu students attending annual firm networking event

Our Values

  • Professionalism - The Architecture Program values its strong relationship with the professional community and the active role its members play in the Architecture Program, as colleagues with its faculty, participating on design juries and the advisory committee and serving as mentors and role models to its students as they strive to develop design expertise, aesthetic competency and sound contextual responses in their work. We believe that this serves to strengthen our pursuit of the Program’s goal to develop and nurture a culture of professionalism and a strong sense of ethics within the program and the profession.

  • Balancing Theory and Practice - The Architecture Program places great value on balancing theory and practice in its curriculum. We believe that an emphasis on applied learning and hands-on experience combined with theoretical exploration contributes to higher design standards that are evidenced in the quality and technical prowess of our student projects, the challenging studio and community projects we pursue, and the intellectual dialogues that our students and faculty engage in. We believe that this contributes to our student’s proficiency and preparedness in addressing issues of professionalism, a commitment to improve the man-made environment, an awareness of environmental issues and sustainability, urbanism, etc.

  • Diversity - The Architecture Program values diversity in its student body, faculty, supportive interdisciplinary climate, commitment to teamwork, and learning environment. We believe that this encourages collaboration and strong professional relationships among students, faculty, alumni and professionals and strengthens our commitment to encouraging critical thinking, creativity and innovation.

Studio Culture

The Department of Architecture at KSU is committed to instilling and reinforcing a studio culture that provides an innovative, creative and well-rounded education for all of its students. The Studio Culture Policy calls for the promotion of 5 values and reads as follows:

    • Design faculty should make efforts to foster a positive confidence among students to generate a strong sense of optimism in them.
    • Design faculty’s candid feedback to students during desk critiques and formal juries should be focused toward developing self-reliance in students to successfully finish their projects.
    • Design faculty should offer constructive critiques, the value of time management, and should instill a democratic decision-making atmosphere in studios.
    • Design faculty should encourage diversity of ideas among their students.
    • Having a quality workspace is critical to successful studio work; the Architecture Program should maintain sufficient studio space and allied resources.
    • Design faculty should foster collaboration in design studios that can help students later in their professional career.
    • Design faculty should encourage exploring interdisciplinary connections that go beyond the studio settings to enrich the design process.
    • Faculty should encourage students to play a larger role within university communities, student and professional organizations.
    • Faculty should encourage students to make critical decisions as leaders in their design projects.
    • Faculty should make special efforts to develop design projects that foster interaction with architectural practitioners and experts in allied disciplines.
    • Faculty should foster critical thinking among students to explore innovative ideas with confidence.
    • Faculty should offer alternative design approaches relative to each student’s design strengths that instill innovation.

 

As part of the Studio Culture Policy, the Department of Architecture also notes the following conditions and policies relative to the use of studio space:

  • The Department of Architecture provides desks, seats and side storage cabinets for your individual use throughout the year. Studio furniture is a valuable asset to you and to the school. You are responsible for maintaining your assigned studio furniture, and the surrounding areas, in good condition and you will be penalized for damages resulting from negligence or poor usage. Get into the habit of picking up your trash (soda cans, paper, etc.) after each review or work session in the public areas of the building.

    • Desktop Surfaces: Desktop surfaces are fragile; please take good care of them. Do not use cutting knives on the desktops as they will damage the drawing surfaces permanently. Instead, always use your cutting mat; this will protect the desk surface, help you to keep your cuts straight, and make your blades last longer.

    • Furniture: Studio furniture and equipment cannot be removed from the studio space without instructor permission. Furniture in common/shared spaces cannot be relocated to studios or other areas.

    • Storage: Always clean and maintain your work station. Loose cardboard and paper on the floors present a tripping hazard and may cause someone to slip and fall causing injury. Do not store excessive amounts of foam around your desk. Foam is an easily flammable material keep it way from outlets and electric cords. Storage cabinets and swipe cards must be returned to the Facilities Manager upon withdrawal from or completion of the course.

    • Painting and Aerosols: Use of all aerosol products – spray paint, spray mount, fixative – is strictly prohibited in the studio, and in the building. Please use only the designated spray areas outdoors to use these products.

    • Pin ups and Presentations: Please use shared pinup areas responsibly. Unless directed otherwise, remove your drawings and models promptly after finishing a review or pinup in order for the area to be used by other classes. Building staff have been informed that such work left in classrooms, in the pit, hallways or pinup areas can be discarded, and will be discarded as trash. 

    • Small Appliances: University safety policy prohibits the use of small kitchen appliances in the studio area (coffee makers, microwaves, toaster ovens). The reason for this is the electrical wiring. Excess plugs and extension cords present potential fire hazards particularly when surrounded by paper products and foam.

    • Sleeping and Sleeping Paraphernalia: University policy prohibits students from sleeping is classrooms or other educational or recreational spaces. This means studio! Having sleeping bags or cots, blankets and pillows will be interpreted as intention of violate the policy. 

    • Safety Goggles: ANSI rated safety glasses must be worn at all times when in the wood and digital fabrication labs. No exceptions. 

  • The power tools are not permitted in studio and must not be used or stored in the building. However, you may use the N Building shop throughout the semester once you have completed the required shop training. 
    • Design studio is a shared space and must be treated differently than your personal space. Music in studio is allowed only with headphones. 
    • Regardless of the time of day, be mindful of the work environment of those around you. 
    • Please keep noise and conversation to a minimum while class is in session and respect the working environment of others when class is not in session.
    • Portable stereo equipment cannot be used without headphones at any time.
    • Portable stereo equipment may not be used during class, unless noted otherwise. 
  • Design Studio is both a course and a space. From 2:00pm to 5:50pm, class is in session and a more formal work environment is expected. Turn off all phones at the start of class each day. Phone calls, texting, and other distractions are not allowed during class. Laptops may be used for research related to course content only.